Why Does Your Dog Pee?

There are many reasons dogs urinate. And no it isn’t always “because they have to pee.”

Full Bladder

Ok yes, the most common and obvious reason for a dog to pee is because they have a full bladder. Like all mammals, dogs process liquids, extract some water to hydrate their cells and the excess is excreted in the form of urine. So nine times out of ten, you dog is peeing because his bladder is full.

Fear

If a dog is truly terrified, he may lose control of his bladder. Many dogs do this when being intimidated by a more aggressive dog. Dogs also can do this when being yelled at by their owner. Dogs can be very sensitive. If you notice your dog is peeing and also showing other physical signs of fear, you should do your best to calm and comfort him.

Excitement

Very rarely, a dog will get so excited that he will lose control of his bladder. This is not a very common occurrence, but some overly excitable dogs simply forget to keep their cool when they get excited. There isn’t a “cure” for this issue. You just have to be aware that your overly excitable pooch may pee himself with joy every now and then.

Incontinence

Sometimes a dog will pee unconsciously because they have urinary incontinence. Incontinence could be caused by old age or in some cases incontinence is caused by spaying a female dog. During the procedure, the bladder sphincter is compromised. Typically this type of incontinence can be resolved with medication.

Marking their Territory

Dogs are a territorial animal. A dog will use urine to “mark” his territory. These scent markers give information to other dogs. It’s theorized that a dog can learn some intimate facts about another dog just from smelling his urine marker.

Even though a large yard or a farm are the best environments for dogs, it is possible to live with a dog in an apartment. If you are considering getting a dog and you live in an apartment, it’s advisable to get a smaller dog and a dog that is lower energy. No matter the breed or size of dog you get, there are several factors you need to consider.

Daily walks

Dogs need regular exercise. And any dog that does not have access to a large yard needs even more directed exercise and access to a place to go to the bathroom. Dogs living in an apartment are confined the majority of the day. Without a way to stretch their legs and burn off their energy, they are likely to direct their efforts into rearranging your furniture or destroying pillows.

Plenty of toys

Since a dog in an apartment has limited stimuli, it’s best to give him extra toys to keep himself occupied. This should include a wide variety of toys from balls to ropes to fluffy animals stuffed with squeakers. An apartment bound dog needs lots of distractions because his daily world is rather small.

Consider doggie day care

If you are close to a doggie day care, and can afford it, this is a great option for apartment living pooches. Doggie day cares are places where owners can take their dogs, drop them off, let the dog play all day while you are at work, and you pick them up on your way home. Doggie day cares allow dogs to get exercise and socialize all day while their owners are at work. Many doggie day cares also offer overnight boarding for when dog owners have to go out of town.

Co-op with other pet owners

If you know other dog owners in your building, you might consider some type of co-op arrangement where you all share the care of each others dogs. Some people may work from home and can provide mid-day dog walks to some residents while others can walk the dogs early in the morning or in the evenings. By sharing the duties, all the dogs can get access to more attention and exercise than they would receive from their owner alone.

Why get a memory foam dog bed?

When memory foam mattresses were introduced, people loved how comfortable they were. It didn’t take long for dog beds to be made with memory foam. Memory foam dog beds are the ultimate in comfort for your canine friend. Some of the best orthopedic dog begs are made of memory foam. In fat, most of the beds dog beds, as seen here http://bestdogcratesandbeds.com/product-reviews/best-orthopedic-dog-beds-reviews-2016/, are made of memory foam. Dogs love their beds when they are comfortable so make sure you buy your dog a comfortable bed!

Memory foam dog beds come in a range of sizes, colors, and fabrics. The core of the dog bed is made of memory foam and will form to your dog the same way memory foam mattresses form to people.

Benefits of a memory foam dog bed

It’s the ultimate in comfort! Your dog will never want to leave the blissful heaven of his memory foam dog bed once you lay it down on the floor for him. These beds are made with a memory foam core surrounded by a luxurious fabric, sometimes microfiber or a soft cotton.

The memory foam dog bed will form to your dog, alleviating any pressure points the dog may have. Many dogs that have arthritis or other physical pains will really enjoy the extra support the memory foam dog bed provides.

The covers are easily removed and washed so that the bed remains clean and smelling fresh.

Problem with a memory foam dog bed

The biggest issue with memory foam dog beds is their price. Like human memory foam mattresses, the memory foam dog bed is pricier than the average dog bed.

Depending on the quality of the memory foam, some memory foam dog beds can break down over time, leading to patches of squished memory foam where it no longer provides any support for your dog.

Make sure the dog bed covering is waterproof otherwise any spills or accidents your dog may have will become a permanent part of his memory foam dog bed.

It’s also important to ensure the cover fits the bed properly or the dog can easily rip a hole in the fabric.

Proper Flea Control

It’s very important that you keep your dog on a regular flea control. Fleas are a tiny insect that like to make their homes on your dogs skin and fur. They nestle in and feed off of your dogs blood and skin. Fleas bite the dog and cause intense itching. If left uncontrolled, the dog can develop severe skin problems and potentially lose all of their hair.

Topical Flea Control

The most common form of flea control is a topical flea control. There are several brands available, each claiming they kill or repel fleas and or ticks. Some dogs have allergic reactions to some brands. It’s best to consult a veterinarian about which brand might be good for your dog. The topical flea controls are available in several sizes corresponding to the weight of your dog. The topical are usually in a liquid form and are applied in dots down the length of the dogs back or at the back of the neck.

Flea Collar

A flea collar contains a chemical that repels fleas. The dog wears the collar all of the time, providing a constant “shield” for the dog against fleas. Flea collars are a good alternative for dogs that have bad reactions to the topical flea ointments or for dogs that are in heavily flea infested areas. Flea collars are typically good for 90 days or so.

Flea Shampoo

Flea shampoos are available to suds away the little monsters. The shampoos work by using a chemical that kills adult fleas and their eggs. Dogs with particularly bad infestations would benefit from a bath with flea shampoo followed by topical flea treatments or a flea collar. Several “flea baths” may be needed to be assured of getting rid of all the fleas. Most flea treatments also kill or repel ticks. Don’t forget- when bathing your dog, have plenty of towels on hand or your bathroom will be covered in water spray!

The Bloodhound is an iconic dog breed. You cannot mistake them for anything else! Bloodhounds are descended from dogs from Belgium and France. Bloodhounds are large scent hound bred to track deer, boar, and most famously people. The Bloodhound is renowned for his skills in being able to track humans over great distances even many days have passed. Bloodhounds are typically eight to one hundred and ten pounds. They have a very distinctive “baying” sound they make when they are on the hunt tracking something. One Bloodhound, named Nick Carter, is credited with more than six hundred and fifty finds. One such track required Nick Carter to follow a trail that was 12 days old, and yep, he still found the man he was tracking. The dog Cooper from “The fox and the Hounds” was a Bloodhound.

Bloodhounds are gentle, but they are relentless when tracking a smell. For this reason, Bloodhounds can be stubborn and difficult to handle on a leash when they find a smell they want to follow. Bloodhounds have loving and affectionate temperaments with people which makes them good family dogs. All the folds around their mouth and nose and those long floppy ears are the reason Bloodhounds can detect such minute traces of smells. They can detect a smell as small as a cell or two There nasal passages are also larger than most other dog breeds.

As with most dog breeds, Bloodhounds benefit from socialization as a puppy. They are quiet and gentle so they make good family dogs. Bloodhounds are good with children and pleasant to be around. Bloodhounds don’t require a huge amount of exercise and are happy to just laze around the house, letting their droopy face wrinkles and long ears lay casually on your couch pillows.

How much do you feed your dog?

Dogs need to have a well balanced diet, just like we do. How much food your dog needs will depend on a variety of factors. First how big is your dog?

Feeding size usually goes up with dog size. Larger dogs need more food. Smaller dogs tend to burn calories faster, so that doesn’t mean a small dog should get a tiny amount of food. But in general, large dog means more food. The next important factor to consider is age.

Young dogs need a lot of puppy food because they are growing and need the nutrition. As the dog ages, his food requirements will change depending on his level of activity and metabolism. Once a dog is considered a senior, his dietary needs may change again, accounting for metabolic changes and illnesses.

Over the course of a dog’s life, his need for food will likely change several times. Adjust the food based on the dog’s weight. Just like people, the dog should maintain a healthy weight, not too fat, not too thin.

When is a good time to feed your dog?

There are several feeding programs you could use for your dog. A dog can consume all their food at one meal, either in the morning or in the evening.

Or you can split their meals into more than one feeding. Many times, when a dog is fed depends on your schedule. Many people opt to feed their dogs in the evening when they get home from work while others choose to do this in the morning.

However, after a dog has had his daily meal, he typically wants to go to the bathroom. So feeding him right before leaving for work without giving him his needed bathroom visit might be risky.

Conversely, you could give your dog 2 or more smaller meals throughout the day. This spreads out the digestion for the dog and balances their system a bit better. But multiple feedings are sometimes too challenging for dog owners.

Why groom your dog?

Dogs have hair covering their entire body. But that hair is not permanent. Each year, most breeds shed their coat. Some shed twice a year, others shed year round. It’s important to groom your dog for several reasons. First, it helps keep them clean. By grooming and removing old, dead hairs, you assist the dog is not only getting rid of the hair, but also getting rid of dead skin. Dogs shed dead skin cells just like we do. By grooming them, you help remove all of that. Secondly, grooming your dog helps to get the hair off the dog, preventing it from ending up all over your house and furniture. Sometimes, with long haired dogs, the hair gets caught after it is shed. The hair matts together and get tangled. This is very uncomfortable for the dog and does not look good either. Dirt and fleas and other unhealthy things can get lodged in the hair and infections can begin.

What is the best brush to groom your dog?

The brush you use on your dog will depend on the type of hair your dog has. If the dog has short hair, a short densely bristled brush will likely get the most hair off efficiently. Longer haired dogs need brushes that have longer bristles that are set farther apart. The longer hair is easier to mat and will require more frequent grooming, especially during shedding season. With short haired dogs, another alternative might be to use a grooming vacuum. These specially designed vacuums can be used on dogs, cats, or horses. They suck the shedding hairs right off the animal! Many dogs are initially afraid of the loud vacuum sound, so it’s best to get them used to it gradually and in a way that does not frighten them. Grooming vacuums can make grooming time a lot more efficient!